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Sphingolipids are a class of biologically active lipids that have a role in multiple biological processes including inflammation. Sphingolipids exert their functions by direct signaling or through signaling by their specific receptors. Phosphorylated FTY720 (FTY720P) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) analogue that is currently in trial for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), which targets all S1P receptors but S1P(2). To date, however, it remains unknown whether FTY720P may exert direct anti-inflammatory effects within the central nervous system (CNS), because data concerning S1P receptor expression and regulation under pathological conditions in the human brain are lacking. To investigate potential regulation of S1P receptors in the human brain during MS, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of S1P receptor 1 and 3 expression in well-characterized MS lesions. A strong increase in S1P receptor 1 and 3 expression on reactive astrocytes was detected in active and chronic inactive MS lesions. In addition, we treated primary cultures of human astrocytes with the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha to identify the regulation of S1P(1/3) on astrocytes under pathological conditions. Importantly, we demonstrate that FTY720P exerts an anti-inflammatory action on human astrocytes by limiting secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Our data demonstrate that reactive astrocytes in MS lesions and cultured under proinflammatory conditions strongly enhance expression of S1P receptors 1 and 3. Results from this study indicate that astrocytes may act as a yet-unknown target within the CNS for the anti-inflammatory effects observed after FTY720P administration in the treatment of MS., ((c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Abstract Background The sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator FTY720P (Gilenya®) potently reduces relapse rate and lesion activity in the neuroinflammatory disorder multiple sclerosis. Although most of its efficacy has been shown to be related to immunosuppression through the induction of lymphopenia, it has been suggested that a number of its beneficial effects are related to altered endothelial and blood–brain barrier (BBB) functionality. However, to date it remains unknown whether brain endothelial S1P receptors are involved in the maintenance of the function of the BBB thereby mediating immune quiescence of the brain. Here we demonstrate that the brain endothelial receptor S1P5 largely contributes to the maintenance of brain endothelial barrier function. Methods We analyzed the expression of S1P5 in human post-mortem tissues using immunohistochemistry. The function of S1P5 at the BBB was assessed in cultured human brain endothelial cells (ECs) using agonists and lentivirus-mediated knockdown of S1P5. Subsequent analyses of different aspects of the brain EC barrier included the formation of a tight barrier, the expression of BBB proteins and markers of inflammation and monocyte transmigration. Results We show that activation of S1P5 on cultured human brain ECs by a selective agonist elicits enhanced barrier integrity and reduced transendothelial migration of monocytes in vitro. These results were corroborated by genetically silencing S1P5 in brain ECs. Interestingly, functional studies with these cells revealed that S1P5 strongly contributes to brain EC barrier function and underlies the expression of specific BBB endothelial characteristics such as tight junctions and permeability. In addition, S1P5 maintains the immunoquiescent state of brain ECs with low expression levels of leukocyte adhesion molecules and inflammatory chemokines and cytokines through lowering the activation of the transcription factor NFκB. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that S1P5 in brain ECs contributes to optimal barrier formation and maintenance of immune quiescence of the barrier endothelium.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 447–453. Normal neuronal functioning is dependent on the blood-brain barrier. This barrier is confined to specialized brain endothelial cells lining the inner vessel wall, and tightly controlling transport of nutrients, efflux of potentially harmful molecules and entry of immune cells into the brain. Loss of blood-brain barrier function is an early and significant event which contributes to inflammation in the brain and subsequent progression of neuronal deficits in a number of brain disorders and has been well-documented for the auto-immune disease multiple sclerosis. Extravasation of cells happens by paracellular transport across the endothelial junctions, transcellularly across the endothelial cells, or both, and requires the active participation of endothelial cells. We and others have shown that this process requires the activity of proteases, including tissue-type plasminogen activator. We here describe a novel role for NMDA receptor, a potential cellular target of tissue-type plasminogen activator, in human brain endothelial cells. Our results show that the NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NR1) is expressed in brain endothelial cells, regulates tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced signal transduction and controls the passage of monocytes through the brain endothelial cell barrier. Together, our results hold significant promise for the treatment of chronic inflammation in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]